Compartmented container for liquids



1955 J. w. SAWYER 2,714,974

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Original Filed March 2, 1949 Fl .I.

1 N VENTOR JOHN W. SAWYER BYMM ATTORNEY United States PatentCOMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS John W. Sawyer, Arlington, Va.

Original application March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,264. Divided and thisapplication October 24, 1949, Serial No. 123,281

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-94) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see.266) This invention relates generally to the art of construction ofplastic replicas of surface elements such as gears, bearings, boilertube interiors, and more specifically to the container and dispenser forthe plastic material of which the replica is made. This application is adivision of Serial Number 79,264 filed March 2, 1949, now Patent No.2,601,703, July 1, 1952, for Method and Apparatus for Testing SurfaceDefects.

The invention of the parent application relates to apparatus and methodsemployed in forming minutely accurate negative replicas of worn orinjured machine element surfaces or other surfaces of which it isdesired to construct an exact model for inspection or laboratory testpurposes. These are formed of a liquid plastic of low viscosity so thatthe casting material can be poured mto a mold or other retaining device,after which the plastic is hardened in place against the surface againstwhich it is held. This plastic material is chemically hardened throughthe agency of activators and catalysts which must be mixed with theplastic and filler just before use. The patent application disclosesvarious types of plastics and hardening agents suitable for the purpose.

The materials of a chemically hardened plastic must be accuratelymeasured and stored separately in order to provide proper proportions ofthe materials to be mixed as needed in various locations, usually farfrom the laboratory of source of supply of the materials. The quantityrequired is small for any particular use, and suitable storage means isessential to the convenient use of the testing means and method of theparent case. Other storage means than herein disclosed are available, ofwhich one form is disclosed in the parent case. The present applicationrelates to a greatly improved form of container, in which a singlepackage contains metered amounts of the several components of themixture, and to means for mixing the components at the time of usewithout danger of loss of any of the material from the severalcontainers within the package, and without exposure of the components tothe air or to each other prior to mixing.

An object of the present invention is accordingly to provide asingle-package dispensing container for the plastic casting materialemployed in making negatlve surface replicas.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying sheet of drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a collapsible tubecontainer for plastic, catalyst and activator liquids.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tube of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of sealing means securing three containersin fixed positional relationship.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an applicator attached to the tube of Fig.1.

In the preparation of a plastic for reproduction of a surface accordingto this invention it is found convenient to employ a package containinga plastic matrix in which the filler is already mixed, the whole masshaving a watery consistency so as to be free-flowing and easy ofapplication. Usually within the same container is enclosed a secondpackage or tube containing a second liquid comprising the activator,plasticizer, catalyst and other materials found necessary or desirableso that a complete mixture is readily available upon the opening of asingle container. Separate containers for the two or three fluids thusemployed are sealed against the air and against mixing in a number ofdifferent ways, two of which are illustrated in the drawings.

According to the preferred embodiment there is shown in Fig. l aflexible tube 54 fitted with a storage cover or screw cap 55 which sealsthe tube 54 and which may be removed and replaced by a suitableapplicator nozzle 56 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The tube 54 may be ofmetal foil or of any plastic material which is not affected by theliquid plastic contained therein. This tube is normally closed at theend opposite the screw cover by a crimping operation, heat seal, orother suitable conventional means. In the form illustrated this tubecontains a second flexible tube 57 within which is stored theplasticizer, activator, accelerator, catalyst, and other components ofthe mixture which must be stored separately from the plastic basecontained in the tube 54.

This inner tube 57, as illustrated, is conveniently sealed separately bya crimping or heat sealing operation shown generally at 58, this tubehaving a tab 59 or extension at the sealed end which is inserted at theopen end of the outer tube 54 between the sides thereof and held theretemporarily while the outer tube is filled and crimped or otherwisesealed. Thus when the outer tube is filled and the inner tube placedtherein and the seal made, both liquids are contained in separatepackages in a single outer package.

The location of the inner package within the outer package is definitelyfixed such that the mixing of the two liquids is facilitated as follows:A slight pressure on the outer tube in the region surrounding the innertube causes a rupture of the inner tube material because of its thinnerand weaker construction, or because of scoring illustrated at 61 in thedrawing. A small pressure on the outer tube thus causes a rupture andmixing of the two fluids, and the operator is easily able to tell whenthe inner tube is broken by the decrease in resistance to hand pressure.Because of the location of the inner tube within the outer in a definitefixed location metal foil or other nontransparent material may be usedfor holding and storing the liquids.

In the event three liquids are required, a third package 62 smaller thanthe second may be inserted within the second and sealed as at 63 in themanner hereinbefore described and provided with tab 64 for scaling inseal 58. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the innermost tube is in a definitelocation within the second tube and hence easily ruptured so that thethird liquid may be mixed with the second prior to mixing of the secondfluid with the fluid in the outer tube. This is facilitated by formingthe innermost tube 62 of material thinner than that of the outer tubesor by more deeply scoring the free end thereof as at 65. It is foundthat the tubes constructed in this manner may be readily manipulated bythe operator, though made of opaque material, when located definitelyand securely fastened to the crimped or sealed edge of the outer tube,as illustrated.

Obviously various modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claim, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

A combined container and dispenser for a plurality of mutually reactingliquids comprising, an outer flexible walled container closeable at anupper end by a hollow threaded connector and terminating at its otherend in a seal, an applicator nozzle, means on said applicator nozzle forselectively securing the latter to said connector, a second flexibleclosed container in said outer container sealed at the ends and having atab at one end thereof secured in a fixed position in the outercontainer, a third flexible closed container in said second containerand secured therein in fixed position adjacent said tab, scoring in aside wall of said third container rendering it more easily ruptured thansaid second container, scoring in a side wall of said second containermaking it more easily ruptured than said outer container, whereby thethird container may be emptied into the second container and the secondcontainer emptied into the outer container and the mixed contentsexhausted through said applicator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

